The Ausiello Files: October 30, 2009

Jorja Fox is staying on CSI, but where's Grissom?
Jorja Fox's decision to extend her CSI return indefinitely leaves the show's producers in a bit of a quandary, considering that her TV hubby, William Petersen, continues to be MIA. But exec producer Carol Mendelsohn says upcoming episodes will shed light on the couple's unconventional marriage.

''We will address the fact that Grissom is somewhere else and Sara is living in Vegas,'' she reveals. ''Everyone on the team is a little interested. They're like, 'What's the deal? Grissom's there, you're here, how does that work?' They were always a little curious about the relationship, and they're still curious.

''They are a very modern couple and they have a very healthy relationship,'' Mendelsohn elaborates. ''They have found a balance in their life that allows them to feel fulfilled in their marriage and their careers. If it works for them, it works for us.''

And having Fox back in the fold (practically) full-time definitely works for CSI, says Mendelsohn. ''Jorja has been the glue that has really helped to re-form the bond of our team,'' raves the exec, adding that the exact number of episodes Fox will appear in is still being worked out. ''From our point of view, the more the better. As many episodes as we can have Jorja for, we want her for.''

And what about Petersen, who left the show nearly a year ago (but who remains an executive producer)? ''We have no plans for Billy's return, but the door's always open,'' she says. ''We have Mrs. Grissom at the moment. We have half of him.''

SCOOPLETS

24's Kim Raver checks into Grey's
Did they or didn't they? That'll be the question on Grey's Anatomy fans' minds when Kim Raver debuts as a blast from Owen's (Kevin McKidd) Army-medic past on Nov. 12. ''When we first meet her, we're not quite sure what went on between them in Iraq,'' says Raver, whose character, Teddy, is hired as Seattle Grace's new cardiac surgeon. ''But there's definitely a hint of a triangle with her, Owen, and Cristina [Sandra Oh].'' What about rumors that Grey's producers ordered her to dye her trademark dirty-blond locks brunet for the role? Total fabrication, Raver insists. ''I don't know where that [story] came from,'' she says. ''My hair may not be as blond as it was on 24, but it's the same as it was on Lipstick Jungle.''

A Desperate death looms
It's a showrunner's prerogative to change his mind. So although he insisted in this very column that he wasn't planning to kill off any characters in this November's big Wisteria Lane plane-crash catastrophe cliff-hanger, Desperate Housewives executive producer Marc Cherry has decided, on second thought, to whack several, including one my mole describes as a ''fan favorite.'' Hmmm... My money's on the doomed jetliner taking out either blackmailin' klepto killer Orson (the woefully underused Kyle MacLachlan) or his barely there stepson, Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom, who declined to return to the show as a full-time series regular this season). Not much money, mind you. Just $10.

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